ACTS 4 (1)

The Bible passage God is giving us today is from the book of  Acts 26:22-29. Let’s read it in turn and the last verse together.
(Ac 26:22) But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen -
(Ac 26:23) that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
(Ac 26:24) At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
(Ac 26:25) “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.
(Ac 26:26) The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
(Ac 26:27) King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
(Ac 26:28) Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
(Ac 26:29) Paul replied, “Short time or long - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
 
Review
During the retreat, we studied the Book of Acts. Today and next week, we will be covering the parts that we were not able to address during the retreat. With that being said, today’s sermon will be longer than usual, so I ask for your understanding. All right. Let’s start.
The entire story of Acts is summarized in Acts 1:8. 
After Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days and taught them about the kingdom of God. Then, before He ascended into heaven, the Lord said to them,
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The story of Acts shows how this promise was fulfilled in the history of the early church.  The Book of Acts can be divided into four parts according to the geographical divisions mentioned in this verse.
 
I. Jerusalem (1:1-6:7)
The first part covers Acts 1:1 through Acts 6:7, focusing on how the gospel was proclaimed and the church was established in Jerusalem.
Following Jesus’ command to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and devoted themselves to praying. Then, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples powerfully as the Lord had promised.
They spoke in tongues, performed many signs and wonders, and boldly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, many Jews turned to the Lord, and the church in Jerusalem was established.

Although Satan attacked them through external persecution, internal corruption, and even busyness, they, resisted Satan’s attacks with the joy, sanctifying work, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and continued to faithfully carry out the mission the Lord had given them. This is what we see from Acts 1 through chapter 6, verse 7.
However, there were two problems with evangelism at that time. The first problem was geographical. The proclamation of the gospel was taking place only within Jerusalem. The second problem was cultural and racial—the gospel was proclaimed only to the Jews.
 
II. Judea and Samaria, Antioch (6:8~12:25)
Through the following chapters, we see how God resolved these two problems. First, to address the geographical problem of the gospel being proclaimed only in Jerusalem, God used persecution. Persecution against the church had begun from the very moment the apostles preached the gospel, but at first, it was not that severe. They would arrest the apostles, bring them before the Sanhedrin, interrogate them, and beat them.
However, in Acts 7, the event of Stephen, one of the deacons, being stoned to death in martyrdom took place, and this incident became the starting point of full-scale persecution against the church in Jerusalem and against Christians. Yet God used that persecution for the geographical expansion of the gospel. Because of the persecution in Jerusalem, believers were scattered to other regions beyond Judea and Samaria. The important point is that in the places where they were scattered, they preached the gospel. Acts 8:1, 4 says, 
“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:1, 4)
In Acts 8, Philip went to Samaria and preached the gospel. In the same chapter, he also preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch. This shows that the spread of the gospel was expanding not only geographically but also culturally and racially. The gospel was now beginning to be proclaimed beyond the Jews, to the Samaritans and to the Gentiles.
We also see in Acts 9 how God prepared Saul, who would later become the instrument to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. He was originally one who persecuted Christians and the church, but on the road to Damascus he encountered Jesus, was converted, and immediately began to preach the gospel.
In the next chapter, we see how God prepared Peter for the work of proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter had preached two sermons, and as a result, about 8,000 Jews turned to the Lord. His influence in the Jewish Christian community and in the church in Jerusalem was tremendous.
 God showed this Peter the same vision three times, the vision of the large sheet filled with impure animals according to the law. Then God led him to meet Cornelius, a Roman centurion, in order to change his perception of the Gentiles. When Peter preached the gospel to them, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Although they did not know the Old Testament Scriptures and, of course, did not keep the laws of the Old Testament, they were saved, forgiven of their sins, and received the Holy Spirit by believing in and receiving Jesus Christ through the gospel Peter preached.
Through this experience, Peter realized that God had opened wide the door of salvation to the Gentiles. Later, when Peter was criticized by those who opposed him for entering the house of a Gentile, he said,
 “So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17)
When they heard this, the Jewish Christians said,  “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)
Peter’s change in perception greatly influenced the change in the perception of all other Jewish Christians toward the Gentiles. We see how important this change in Peter’s understanding became in the Jerusalem Council that took place in Acts 15.
That council took place after Paul’s first missionary journey. As more Gentiles came to believe in Jesus and turned to the Lord, some Jewish Christians began to insist that they also had to be circumcised and keep the Law. This issue was a very important one that could have caused division in the early church. Therefore, in order to resolve this issue, the first council was held in Jerusalem round AD 50, which was called “the Jerusalem Council”.
And, the person who played the most important role in this counsel was neither Paul, who had preached the gospel to the Gentiles, nor James, who was the chair of the council, but Peter. When some Jewish Christians from the Pharisaic group insisted that Gentile Christians should be required to keep the Law, Peter spoke: 
“God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Ac 15:8-11)
Peter explained that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit not because they had kept the Law, but because of their faith, and he argued that they did not need to observe the Law.
As the representative of the Jewish Christian church and the most influential figure, when Peter said this, no one there could refute him. Ultimately, Peter’s statement contributed the most to the decision of the Jerusalem Council. As a result of this council, it was confirmed that Gentiles who believed in Jesus were under no obligation to keep the Law, and through this meeting, the door of salvation to the Gentiles was opened wide. It also enabled Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians to become one family, not through anything else, but through faith in Jesus alone.
It was precisely for this moment that God had shown Peter the vision and led him to meet Cornelius. Through those experiences, God had changed Peter’s understanding so that when the council was held, the conclusion could be reached according to God’s will and plan.
What we see through this event is God’s sovereignty and His leading role in His missions As we have continually observed, God is alive, and the living God is a missionary God. While it is true that Peter and Paul played important roles, they are not the main characters of the mission. God is the main character. God planned and orchestrated everything so that the gospel could be preached to all nations and all peoples.
Without God’s sovereign and leading role in missions, there is no way to explain the emergence of the early church and the rapid advancement of the gospel. The church was not established while Jesus was on earth, but after He had ascended to heaven. From the very moment of its birth, the church continually faced severe persecution. The first persecution came from the Jews, but soon the Roman emperors became the persecutors. History tells us how many emperors—especially Nero and Domitian—persecuted the church with extreme cruelty.
Yet what is truly astonishing is that in such difficult circumstances, the church spread and grew at an incredible speed. How could such a thing be possible? There is no other explanation except that God sovereignly accomplished this work. There is no other explanation except that the disciples had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus.
Therefore, the history of the early church—and their pure faith and passion in the midst of suffering and persecution—becomes the most powerful evidence that God is alive and that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact.
This is the truth I hope we all realize from Acts: the living God is a missionary God. Mission does not depend on us—it depends on God. Whether we fervently participate in missions or not, God’s mission will surely be fulfilled, because it is God Himself who plans, leads, and accomplishes it with His almighty power. As Jesus once said, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Lk 19:40)
Our role is to decide whether we will participate in God’s mission. God has made us His co-workers and has called us to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, inviting us into the mission of establishing His kingdom on this earth. If we confess that God is a missionary God, and if we believe that we are His people, then we must also become a missionary people. This is the identity we must have as Christians—an identity we must never give up.
 
We also see in Acts 11 a church that God established in order for the gospel to be spread much more widely beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria—the church in Antioch.
Because of the persecution of Stephen in Acts 7, believers were scattered beyond Judea and Samaria to a place called Antioch, and there they preached the gospel not only to Jews but also to Greeks. As a result, the first church where Jews and Greeks coexisted was established. When the church in Jerusalem heard this news, they sent Barnabas to Antioch, and Barnabas, together with Paul, taught there for a year. This brings us to the end of the second part of the Book of Acts.

 
III. Paul’s Three Missionary Journeys (Acts 13:1 – 21:26)
In Acts 13, while the leaders of the church in Antioch were fasting and praying, the Holy Spirit said to them,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)
Following this word, they sent off Paul and Barnabas, and that was the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys. Paul undertook a total of three missionary journeys.
 
1.  First Missionary Journey: Galatia (Acts 13:1–14:28)

On his first journey, Paul mainly traveled through the southern cities of Galatia. That journey was by no means easy. On the way to Pisidian Antioch, he had to cross the Taurus Mountains, which were snow-capped year-round.
While he was preaching the gospel there, he had to flee to the next city because of persecution from the Jews. But the Jews kept pursuing Paul. They caught him in Lystra and stoned him until they thought he was dead. Believing he was dead, they dragged him out of the city. But Paul had not died, and the next day he went to a place called Derbe.
The important part is the return journey of his first missionary trip. Paul intended to return to the church in Antioch that had sent him. And, from Derbe, where Paul now was, the best route back to Antioch was through the Cilician Gates. That route even passed through his hometown of Tarsus. There could not have been a better route than this.
However, Paul did not choose to return to Antioch by that route. Instead, he set his steps once again toward Lystra, the place where people had tried to kill him by stoning. He went to Iconium, where and to Pisidian Antioch Jews who were hostile to him were.
That route was much more dangerous, took more time, and was far less comfortable. Returning to the church in Antioch by this route meant that he would have to cross the Taurus Mountains again and also make a long sea voyage—which was also much more dangerous than it is now.
Nevertheless, Paul chose to abandon the easy and comfortable road and take the difficult and dangerous one. This shows clearly how much Paul’s life was held captive by the mission God had given him. He did not seek his own comfort or ease. What was always on his mind, what guided his steps, was how he could best fulfill the mission the Lord had given him—to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. To fulfill that mission, he gave up all comfort and ease, and he was even willing to give up his own life. He was truly a man of mission.
 
2.  Paul’s Second Missionary Journey: Europe (Macedonia and Achaia) (15:36-18:22)
After finishing his first missionary journey, Paul attended the Jerusalem Council and then returned to the church in Antioch. After that, Paul set out on his second missionary journey.
However, the journey did not go as he had planned. He intended to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him. He tried to go to Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit did not permit it. While he was in Troas, he saw a vision of a man from Macedonia at night, and being certain that it was the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he crossed over to Macedonia.
Paul preached the gospel in three cities in Macedonia: Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. While preaching in Philippi, Paul was imprisoned, but even there he sang praises. Afterwards, he moved to Thessalonica to preach the gospel, but due to persecution from the Jews, he fled to Berea. The same thing happened in Berea—Jews pursued Paul from Thessalonica to Berea and stirred up the people against him.
So, Paul left Berea and went to Athens, which was the first place in Achaia where Paul preached the gospel. There, Paul debated with philosophers while preaching the gospel. Afterward, Paul went to Corinth, where he stayed for a year and six months, preaching the gospel and establishing a church.
That was Paul’s second missionary journey. Through this journey, the gospel reached into the region of Europe.
 
3. Third Missionary Journey: Asia Minor (Ephesus) (18:23-21:16)
After his second missionary journey, Paul spent some time with the church in Antioch and set out on his third missionary journey.
Paul spent most of his third missionary journey in Ephesus, the central city of Asia Minor. He taught in the synagogue for the first three months, and then for two years he taught disciples daily at the hall of Tyrannus. As a result, churches were established not only in Ephesus but also in many regions of Asia Minor. Acts 19:10 says, "This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord." (Acts 19:10)
Paul’s preaching of the gospel was accompanied not only by words but also by great power. God performed many miracles through Paul, and as a result, many people feared God, repented, and turned to the Lord. Those who practiced magic gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone, and the value of the books was about fifty thousand drachmas. The gospel was preached in Ephesus with the word of truth and power, which led to the repentance of the whole city. Acts 19:20 says, 
“In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:20)
Now Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was nearing completion. He had preached the gospel in Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, and Asia Minor. However, rather than being satisfied with what he had done, he turned his eyes to places where the gospel had not yet been preached.
That place was Spain, which at that time was considered the ends of the earth. Therefore, during his third missionary journey, while staying in Corinth for three months, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Rome asking for help when he went to Spain.
But that wasn't yet the time for Paul to go to Rome. First, he wanted to deliver the offering he had collected from the churches he visited during his third journey to the church in Jerusalem, which was suffering from famine at that time. So he set Jerusalem, not Antioch, as the final destination of his third missionary journey.
However, Paul knew that his life in Jerusalem would not be easy. During his third missionary journey, the Holy Spirit made him aware that prison and hardships awaited him in every city. But rather than withdrawing to protect his life, he decided to continue fulfilling the mission God had given him. This is what he said when he took his final farewell from the elders of the church in Ephesus at Miletus on the way to Jerusalem: 
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:22-24)
What we can see from this is what Paul’s priority was. His priority was not a comfortable life nor even his own life, but fulfilling God’s mission. He was truly a man gripped by the mission and purpose God had given him. This is also the kind of life we, as the people of the missionary God, must live.
 
IV. The Journey to Rome (21:17–28:31)
Paul’s Arrest (21:18–36)
Today, I want to talk about the last part, the fourth part of the Book of Acts, which we did not cover during the retreat. This section deals with Paul’s journey from Jerusalem to Rome.
After Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he delivered the offering to the Jerusalem church. The next day, Paul went to the temple. However, the Jews who saw Paul in the temple did not leave him alone. As soon as they saw him, they seized him and dragged him out of the temple, intending to kill him. At that moment, Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander, heard that there was a disturbance in the temple and rushed there with his soldiers. Paul narrowly escaped with his life. The commander arrested Paul to find out why the Jews wanted to kill him.
 
Paul’s Three Trials and Five Speeches (21:37–26:32)
Afterwards, Paul went through three trials and gave five speeches and defenses in total. These events are recorded from Acts 21:27 to 26:32.
 
1.  Speech before the Jerusalem crowd (Acts 22:1-22:29)
Right after Paul was arrested by the commander, he asked for the opportunity to speak to the people, and the commander granted his request. So Paul gave a speech to the Jews, which is recorded in Acts chapter 22.
In this speech, Paul began by revealing that he was originally a Jew educated under Gamaliel, the most respected teacher of the law. He then explained how he saw the light of Jesus on the road to Damascus, heard His voice, and how the Lord called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
But the Jews who heard this reacted strongly. Acts 22:22 says, "Then they raised their voices and shouted, ‘Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!’" (Acts 22:22).
As the Jews’ reaction became more violent, the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.
 
2. Trial before the Sanhedrin Council (22:30 – 23:32)
The next day, the commander, wanting to find out why the Jews were accusing Paul, called together the Jewish religious leaders and brought Paul before them. There, Paul gave another speech to the Jews, which is recorded in Acts chapter 23.
Paul looked at the crowd and noticed that there were Pharisees and Sadducees. The Sadducees denied the resurrection, angels, and spirits, while the Pharisees affirmed all of these. Knowing this, Paul said in verse 6:
"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead." (Acts 23:6)
As a result, the Sanhedrin was divided into two factions, and the commander, finding no progress, took Paul back into the barracks.
That night, the Lord appeared to Paul. Acts 23:11 says, "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’" (Acts 23:11)
The Lord encouraged Paul and told him that he would testify about Him in Rome. This gave Paul the assurance and direction that he would not die in Jerusalem. It also gave him a direction to go to Rome. This was later the reason why Paul appealed to Caesar. For Paul, who was under arrest, appealing to Caesar was the only way to get to Rome.
So, Paul’s appeal to Caesar was not only to escape the plot of the Jews who wanted to kill him, but that was not the only reason. The more important reason was that going to Rome was the Lord’s will.
“The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot.” (Ac 23:12-13)
They went to the high priest and told him to convene the Sanhedrin again, petitioning the commander to bring Paul before the council. They intended to kill Paul the moment he left the barracks.
However, Paul’s nephew learned of this plot and informed the commander. Upon hearing this, the commander planned to secretly transfer Paul to Caesarea that very night without the knowledge of the Jews. He called two centurions and gave them orders:
“Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.” (Acts 23:23-24)
The total force the commander sent to escort Paul was 470 men. That he assembled such a large force shows how organized and real the Jewish plan to kill Paul was at that time.
 
3. Trial before Governor Felix in Caesarea (23:33 – 24:26)
Now Paul arrived at the governor Felix’s headquarters in Caesarea. Here, Paul’s second trial took place.
Upon hearing that Paul was in Caesarea, the high priest Ananias came with a lawyer named Tertullus to accuse Paul. This is what they said.
“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.” (Acts 24:5-6)
In Acts 24:10-23, Paul’s defense against these accusations is recorded. Paul said that he had not stirred up any riots among the Jews, that the sect they call Nazarene was not a heresy, and that he entered the temple not to defile it but to purify it. This trial ended as a complete victory for Paul.
What is important is that Paul even used this trial as an opportunity to testify the gospel. During the trial Paul said:
“However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” (Acts 24:14-16)
Through this trial, Paul testified his belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To Paul, Felix was not just a judge but also a person to whom he should witness the gospel. In fact, Paul regarded everyone, whether Jew or Gentile, prisoner or guard, governor or otherwise, as someone to whom he should preach Jesus. That is also the perspective we must have.
Although the trial ended in Paul’s favor, Governor Felix wanted to get some money from Paul and also please the Jews, so he kept Paul in custody. Thus, Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for as long as two years.
 
4.  Trial before Governor Festus (24:27 – 25:12)
When two years had passed, Governor Felix was succeeded by Festus. Then the Jews requested Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem. They were plotting to kill him on the way there. Even after two years, the hatred of the Jews against Paul had not diminished.
But Festus told them, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” (Ac 25:4-5)
 So the third trial of Paul was held under Festus. Many Jews came and accused Paul with various charges, but they could not provide solid evidence. However, wanting to please the Jews, Festus asked him,
“Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” (Acts 25:9)
Paul knew that if he went to Jerusalem for trial, he would be killed by the Jews on the way. But he didn’t have the right to prevent his being sent to Jerusalem. So he appealed to Caesar.
Paul said, “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” (Acts 25:10-11)
That’s how Paul was not sent to Jerusalem. But as I mentioned earlier, Paul’s appeal to Caesar was not only to save his own life. He wanted to go to Rome to preach the gospel to Spain, and because the Lord had told him that he must testify about Him in Rome.
5. Speech before King Agrippa and Bernice (25:13 – 26:32)
Now, Paul’s journey to Rome was decided. But there was a problem. If a prisoner is to be brought before the Emperor, there should be a clear charge. Yet, from Festus’s perspective, it was difficult to identify any specific accusation.
At that time, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. King Agrippa was the grandson of Herod the Great and was well acquainted with Judaism, and Bernice was his sister. King Agrippa governed the territories of the Jews with authority granted by the Roman Emperor.
Festus spoke to King Agrippa about Paul, and Agrippa became interested in him. This gave Paul the opportunity to make a speech before King Agrippa and Bernice. The content of that speech is recorded in Acts 26.
Before Paul’s speech, Festus said,
“King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.” (Acts 25:24–27)
 
After this, Paul began to speak. But here, Paul’s aim was not so much to prove his innocence as to bear witness to the gospel.
First, Paul recounted his experience on the road to Damascus, explaining how he went from being a persecutor to a proclaimer of the gospel. Paul said, 
“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:12–18)
From this, we learn an important truth about the relationship between becoming a Christian and receiving a mission from the Lord. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he did not only receive salvation—he also received a mission. That mission was to open the eyes of those in darkness and lead them into the light of Jesus Christ, and to bring those under the power of Satan to God.
This mission was not given to Paul alone, but to all who believe in Jesus Christ and have received salvation—including us. Having been brought from darkness into light by the radiance of Christ, we are also called to shine His light in this world, leading those who still dwell in darkness to that light. This is the mission we must remember. It is not for a select few Christians, but for everyone who confesses Him as Lord and Savior.
 
Paul also used his opportunity before King Agrippa to defend himself and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said, 
“I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22–23)
Hearing this, King Agrippa said, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28)
Paul did not hide his intention; he revealed it plainly and answered, Let’s read it together:
“Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:29)
How wonderful is this statement! The apostle Paul did not care at all who was standing before him. During the three trials and five speeches, whether before Commander Lysias, Governor Felix, Governor Festus, or King Agrippa, he was never intimidated. Even before the Jews who were rushing to kill him, he boldly proclaimed the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That was his faith, his belief, and his boldness.
So, why did he want to testify about the gospel to everyone? Paul says in Romans 1:14–15:
“I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.” (Romans 1:14–15)
Here, Paul says he is indebted to all people. Why did Paul use this expression?
There are two possible cases of being in debt. The first is a direct case. If I borrowed $100 from DJ, then I am in debt to DJ. But there is also an indirect case. If Albert comes to me and gives me $100, asking me to deliver it to DJ, then even though I did not directly borrow from DJ, I am in debt to DJ for $100 because of Albert’s request.
This is the reason Paul said he was indebted to all people—not because he borrowed something from them, because Jesus had entrusted the gospel to him. The Lord gave Paul the gospel and asked him to deliver it to all people.
It is not to preach the gospel only to close friends. It is not to preach the gospel only to people I want to get along with. It is not to preach the gospel only to people of high status. Even if the person is like an enemy to me, I must preach the gospel to that person. Because the Lord has asked me to deliver the gospel to them.
Paul understood this. He knew he was a debtor to the gospel. That is why, even if the audience was a Jew who hated him, or a person of high rank, or whoever it might be, he preached the gospel without concern. This is the mindset we must also have.
The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, Let’s read it together:
“God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:18–19)
This is what we must keep in mind. God, through the shedding of blood and the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, saved us from sin and reconciled us to Himself. But that is not the end. God has now entrusted the gospel, the message of reconciliation, to us. He has asked us to deliver it to those who have not yet heard the gospel. All Christians are people who have this mission. We have received the ministry of reconciliation from God.
Therefore, we too are debtors to the gospel with regard to everyone around us—because Jesus has asked us to deliver the gospel, the message of reconciliation, to them. This is the mission from God that we must continually remember in our relationships with those around us.
Now, I would like to conclude today’s message. The final section of the book of Acts covers the period after Paul arrived in Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey — how he was arrested, went through three trials and gave five speeches, and ultimately made his way to Rome.
Today, we have especially looked at how Paul was put on trial, how he defended himself, and more importantly, how he used those trials as opportunities to proclaim the gospel.
Paul was a man captivated by his calling. On the road to Damascus, when he first encountered the Lord, he received the mission to proclaim the gospel and lead those in darkness into the light along with salvation. He valued this mission above even his own life. Truly, he preached the gospel to everyone he met — whether they treated him kindly or opposed him, whether they were Jews or Gentiles, whether they were of low social standing or of high status.
This mission was not given only to Paul but to us as well. My desire today is that our identity as “debtors to the gospel” will be renewed so that in every place where God has placed us, in every circumstance, and to every person God brings into our lives, may we faithfully carry out the mission of proclaiming the message of reconciliation that He has entrusted to us. Amen.
Let us now take some time to pray together.
 
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At this moment, let us also come before the Lord with this confession. ‘Lord, help me to live as one who is indebted to the gospel. May I faithfully share the message of reconciliation You have entrusted to me with everyone around me. Grant me the courage to choose the mission over fear, and to hold fast to the gospel above all circumstances.’
Let us offer our hearts to the Lord and pray together.
 
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us today some great lessons from the example of the Apostle Paul’s live. We saw how he was completely surrendered to Your mission, fearless in proclaiming the gospel to all people, regardless of their status or attitude toward him. Lord, we confess that sometimes we lack such boldness and passion. Forgive us when we have been silent or hesitant to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Father, fill us anew with Your Holy Spirit. Empower us to live as Your faithful witnesses, not just in words but through lives that reflect Your love and grace. Help us to remember that the mission You have given us is not optional, but a calling and a privilege.
Teach us to see every person You place in our path as someone precious, someone for whom Christ died. Give us courage to speak Your truth with gentleness and respect, and wisdom to know when and how to share. May we never grow weary in doing good, but remain steadfast and joyful as we serve You.
We pray for strength to run the race with endurance, to finish the task You have set before us, and to glorify Your name in all things.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
1. What do you think the statement "The living God is a missionary God" means? Where in the Book of Acts can you find this truth? How do you think God is currently doing His mission in the world? How will you participate in God's mission?
2. When Paul was converted, he received not only salvation but also a mission. Likewise, all Christians who receive salvation by faith in Jesus Christ also receive a mission. Do you have an identity as a ‘missionary’ or ‘one sent’? What mission has God given to you? How will you prepare yourself to develop and faithfully carry out that mission?
3. Paul described himself as being “a debtor” to preach the gospel to all people. What does it mean? How does this understanding affect the way you live your daily life? Who around you do you feel especially called or “indebted” to share the gospel with? What practical steps can you take to fulfill this mission?